VOVNews: What do Vietnamese people have to do to receive support from the fund and how can the diplomatic mission provide support the quickest possible time?

Mr Dung: The establishment of the fund is very important as it helps Vietnamese diplomatic agencies and consulates to offer quick help to Vietnamese people who have had problems.

When Vietnamese people abroad face difficulties, the Vietnamese embassies and consulates will represent them but the procedures won’t be complicated. The Vietnamese diplomatic agencies will then work with local agencies to learn about the best suitable solutions to support their citizens.

VOVNews: The fund does not stipulate a maximum level of support, so what is the highest amount given in special cases?

Mr Dung: The fund has the three levels of support. Accordingly, the head of diplomatic agencies can approve a maximum support of US$3,000 while the fund’s director has the right to approve the highest support of US$10,000. Special cases which need more support must wait for a decision from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

VOVNews: The fund stipulates refundable and non-refundable expenses. How does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revoke refundable expenses?

Mr Dung: The fund aims to help representative agencies to provide assistance and meet the requirements of Vietnamese citizens quickly. For some expenses, they should be repaid to ensure the fund’s operations.

For expenditures guaranteed by families, organisations and individuals, the Ministry of Finance will ask provinces where its citizens are finding themselves in difficult position to take responsibility for the repayment. Local authorities will also be responsible for urging the families and relatives of people concerned to reimburse them. If these expenses are not fully reimbursed, the Finance Ministry will allocate part of their budget for reimbursement and then claim back the expenses.

VOVNews: How is the budget allocated? Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted any surveys on Overseas Vietnamese finding it difficult to receive help?

Mr Dung: The fund’s preliminary capital was VND20 billion and it has regularly increased to meet practical requirements. At present, there are 108 Vietnamese fishermen in Indonesia who have been arrested for illegal fishing. When the authorities allow these victims to return home, we will spend part of the fund to buy air tickets for them. In 2007, hundreds of fishermen were arrested due to illegal fishing. However, after they were released by the authorities, we brought all of them home. For overseas students and immigrants, we will introduce effective measures to help them in time.

VOVNews: In case Vietnamese representative offices abroad face problems, such as fires. How to get assistance legally?

Mr Dung: For legal purposes, if individuals have a representative office abroad, they have to follow all the regulations of their resident country, including purchasing fire insurance, as well as life and assets insurance. However, in some cases when fires have taken place, insurance companies and the resident authority did not get involved or even denied all responsibility. In such cases, our representative agencies will intervene directly and help Vietnamese citizens to lodge lawsuits against the insurance companies in question.

VOVNews: Thank you.